Hollywood writers to strike; fake news shows hit hardest
The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Hollyweird’s going on strike:
Hollywood writers have called a strike for next week, a move that would shut down production of a vast array of television programs and, if it lasts, slow the pipeline of movies.
Board members of the Writers Guild of America, a labor union representing more than 12,000 TV and movie writers, met Friday in Los Angeles and told members to walk off their jobs at 12:01 a.m. PT Monday, barring last-minute negotiations with studios over the weekend. Talks ended Wednesday, the same day their contracts with studios expired.
The impasse, as usual, is financial. The major sticking points: Royalty payments for the use of movies and TV shows on the Internet and mobile phones, and increased payments for sales of DVDs, which now earn writers just pennies per disc.
“The studios would rather shut down this town than reach a reasonable deal,” said Writers Guild West president Patric Verroneat a Friday afternoon press conference.
The strike marks the first Hollywood walkout since 1988, when a 22-week impasse led to a rash of repeats and a slowdown in film production. A threatened strike by both writers and actors was averted in 2001.
Comedy and late-night shows will be “hardest hit.” Oh, the tragedy:
Popular comedy shows “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report” are vulnerable to a Hollywood writers’ strike since they require fresh writing about current events, Viacom Inc said on Friday.
Both shows air on Viacom’s Comedy Central cable television channel and would likely be replaced by reruns for a period if a strike happened. But the company does not expect much of its other television programming to be affected.
“Probably the couple of shows that … over the next few months are impacted that we have to look at are ‘The Daily Show with Jon Stewart’ and Stephen Colbert, because of their topical nature,” Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman told analysts on a conference call to discuss financial results.
One reader e-mailed in mock agony: “But where will the college kids get their news?”
YouTube!
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I think the strike will last a work week.
Margins are too thin on both sides to let it roll on like a miners strike.
5 days will jeopardize everybody’s vice train.
Gee, maybe these funny guys may have to actually do some of their own material. yawn.
Considering the crap those people write,it certainly won’t last long,since hardly anyone will notice they’re gone.
Really how hard can it be to write paris and britney jokes when 3/4 of the material is provided daily.
With all the life and death issues in the world today, I find it impossible to get worked up about this.
That’s all. I’m done.
With all the votes they may lose…never. They’ll be back before you know it. And if not, then we truly are blessed:):)
good point aj …
I shudder to think what these “comedians” would write for themselves … perhaps it will show people just how “un-funny” these late night types really are …
What? No crappy shows that I don’t watch anyway?
How will we survive? How???
I have a TV around here somewhere…
wonder if it still works.
The entertainment cartel has worked very hard to make them selves no longer relevant, who really cares about them going on strike?
#7 - Dennis Miller is pretty funny. Not sure if he writes his own stuff, but he sure is pretty quick witted when he is interviewing….
This is good news for our country. Bring back the John Wayne movies marathon!
The good news…
This leaves Stephen Colbert more time to concentrate on his Presidential Campaign.
…and there will be more time for Live Hot Air episodes. Hooray!
*image, liberals every where simultaneously holding their ears and covering their eyes in excruciating pain…..as if the tone of John Wayne’s voice was at an unbearably high octave…causing permanent inner ear damage and ocular atrophy……
The way they’re hyping this story here in LaLa Land, you’d think the entire city is gonna be thrown out of work.
I’m seriously LMAO at all the high drama.
Thank gawd my paycheck depends on reality cheese-o-rama tee vee shows.
The good news, Redeye is bound to be better without writers.
Miller is funny feebs, he operates with a brain unlike some others.
Oh, the anguish! This news does place me in a rather peculiar position as I dispise both Hollywood “actor-people-person-beings(-of-thruth-goodness-and-light)” as well as the big studios who continue to exploite American’s goodwill and insatiable appetite for crappy movies.
I love Dennis!!
How many hours/days do you wonder it’ll be before someone invokes the Blame Bush™ clause?
A strike could last some time …after all theres about a gizillion reruns that can be shown. As long as their not writing for referees and umpires, I’m good. Go SC!!!
OMG!!!
ROFLMAO!!!
If there are no more movies about War, where oh where will the people get fake documentaries about our military?
oh … wait … I forgot … MSM
Well, at least we won’t have any more propaganda helping our enemies.
oh … wait … I forgot … MSM
Guess people will have to look elsewhere for their Anti-American material.
oh … wait … I forgot … MSM
At least all my favorite shows have their current seasons finished, so I don’t see a problem here.
Of course, now the actors and actresses will have more time to tell everyone how to run the country and support our enemies.
Hopefully, they have now lost their venue to promote treason.
oh … wait … I forgot … MSM
Damn! Every time I find a silver lining in this cloud, it tarnishes.
Anyone know how we can get the MSM to go on strike?
Please?
“Faux News Alert Hollywierd”
Hundreds of Actors have developed laryngitis and are unable to work.
Reports say this is not
terrorismrelated to the writers strike.There AJ, fixed it for ya!
lol feebs, somehow I thought u or bear would get riled up.
I’m bummed were not playin you guys this week.
Yeah, lol, me to….
*eeevvvilll feebs voice; “sooo we could sqwash you like BUGS!!!”.
BTW Feebie, best of dennis miller is on o reilly tonight.
I’d guess he almost certainly does. He was great even before his days on SNL. I rememeber his standup routines on the late nite shows. I didn’t dare have a mouthful of anything when he’d be on for fear the walls would be covered with coffee or what-have-you. Terrifically funny guy!
problem is, i no likey mr reilly after he was not so nice to ms. m.
i’ll have to think about it…. I really love Dennis!!!
Sat, Nov 10th, 2007 at California 08:00 PM Memorial Stadium
our bets rides on next week!
#29 - my parents saw him in Tahoe a few years back. A couple libs started heckling him and the whole crowed turned on them. my dad said they left early!
My favorite of his was how he was talking about the green vehicles and enviro wack jobs…he eluded to the fact that at some point scientists could get cars to run on CAT FARTS, until then he would be driving his big SUV.
I laughed so hard I cried.Course, he said it better.
OK, AJ…bragging rights.
laughin now.
Ah, yes, Mr. Miller …
I remember the day he got his REAL start:
He had been sentenced to a slow death on a late night talk show with a writing staff that was mediocre at best. Him and Arsenio.
Then he got publicly fired with some shows still to be filmed and aired.
He came out on stage in bathrobe, pajamas, and slippers with no shave, no makeup, bad hair and absolutely not giving a damn about it.
Being completely free of any restrictions (they had already fired him),
he then started to tell the world EXACTLY how he felt about everything.
The country watched in shock and his “bosses” watched in horror as everyone realized he was a ten times funnier and a hundred times more popular WITHOUT the written material!
He don’t need no stinkin’ writers!
He’s been a hero of mine ever since.
Feebie (Hey I got it right) #11, Miller has writers. Not to say he’s not fast on his feet and funny. I like his rants. I think he’ll do fine.
Things I wish for #n:
Faux Presidential Political Debate:
Bill Mahr vs Dennis Miller
The ONE event I’d actually buy on Pay-Per-View
(note I made sure to put the proper names on left and right)
Did I just give some people a nice wet dream? (#37)
Sorry, … Pipe Dream
#23, Tell them that they have to cover Bush and Not bash, and must sign off with the national anthem. All MSM shows toast.
With all those super creative people on strike, who will finish the script to the Mr. Ed movie and all those TV remakes??
I suppose their picket signs will be original.
LOL #11, I can see a poster “I’m on strike, but it’s not a preemptive strike.”
They’ll find ways to Bash Bush.
My sense of fairness tends toward the people that do the work to make everyone else sound smart and clever and should get paid for what they do. However, I don’t see many of these shows where the people actually sound smart or clever. Not much originality, nothing new under the sun.
Apparently, Colbert and Stewart are too stupid to write any of their own lame material.
My all-time favorite Dennis Miller rant is the Harry Reid rant, he had him nailed.
I say let the actors wing it. They think it’s all about them, and they get the big salaries. The shows wouldn’t be better, but they’d be entertaining.
Sorry, a moment’s reflection leads me to believe otherwise…
Any Friday after-work crowd sitting in…(fill in urban, trendy location of your choice) and sipping mojitos could come up with the dreck that is passed off as humor on most of today’s television shows and motion pictures.
Maybe studios will hire “scabs” that have some talent and we can start all over again.
It’s a gas cappin on Hollywood, such an easy target but I have to side with the writers on this one. Simple formula really, their material is more widely used and profits are up, I’m guessin this fued wont last to long or even fly past the deadline on Monday. IMHO.
#43 & #46:
Tooo Damn Right!!!
Now we’ll get the chance to see who REALLY has talent!
OOOOH! OOOH!
I think I may a found a SHINY silver lining:
Without writers giving them material,
maybe the actors and actresses won’t have anything to SAY to the MSM.
Either that or the stupidity level of their statements is about to reach an all-time HIGH!
I think without any writers we’ll be watching dead air & pregnant pauses! Ahhh. bless!
(chuckling)
Who needs new comedy shows when people like Pelosi and Reid can come up with REAL crap that even the most demented writer can’t make up!
Just look at what you can do with Reid’s stupidity alone:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260170172469&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=016
I swear, the link in #53 shows a story more entertaining than all of Comedy Central that week! You can’t make this $%&# up!
I guess this means that Jay Leno will be trawling the newspapers for “Headlines” every night instead of just Mondays. Headlines such as “Homeless Man Placed Under House Arrest.”
Colbert’s presidential bid in the Democratic and Republican primaries in South Carolina is over. He will not be on the ballot in either.
Bye Bye Stephen.
How ’bout reruns of Johnny Carson?
Oh they will be missed. How delusional are these people?
Hollywood writers strike. The number of Pro-American stuff rises.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Wake me up for the Super Bowl commercials…
I never would have known, and now knowing, I most probably will not notice.
.
huh? got it?
OMG — Does this mean that CBS News will be going into re-runs?
Oh, the horror–they might play old Dan Rather “reports.” Noooooo!
It’s still a little too early to blame Bush. The dems will wait and see: if the public likes the strike, the dems will take credit; it the public hates the strike, then the dems will blame Bush. Stayed tuned.
The odd thing is that these fools neither understand how detested they are, nor how worthless. I think this is a job an illegal could do.
Wow, the shows hit hardest will be the ones with the worst writers. Maybe they should strike more often.
On the flip side, these guys have alot of nerve striking considering what they earn compared to what they produce in relation to the vast majority of people in the US whose daily labor actually contributes asomething of value to the country and its infrastucture. Additionally, it’s the union power/money grabbing which has taken the cinema out of cinema. Ever wonder why movies today look like large, expensive television episodes instead of the elegant cinema that existed, say, in the 1940’s? It’s because you need a crew of 25 people if you just want to walk onto a union set and shoot a close-up of a guy’s hand picking up a telephone (true). So, unsurprisingly, close-ups and other carefully constructed cinematic elements get thrown out the window in exchange for several 16-wheelers willed with cables, stands, and more guys striking.
It figures that most Hollywood union people are liberals: it takes a unique brand of immature, self-centered stupidity to be either or both.
Not having a television certainly has its benefits! May the strike last until 2008!
Besides, the drivel I see on the TV shows when I walk by one is gut-wrenching.
I’ll take Hot Air and FoxNews.com internet clips over the TV any day.
Hollywood is the great spincter of offensive and mind-eroding ‘entertainment’ content. Since these meatheads are taking a break, perhaps the TV slaves’ descent into consumerism hell has abated briefly?
On the one hand, I sympathize with the writers because their intellectual property is constantly exploited and they get little or nothing in return.
The industry is changing so fast and production companies don’t want to recognize that. New avenues for writers’ work to be shown means that new rules must be developed so that those that create the work can be compensated.
On the other hand, the writers are probably wanting more than the studios can deliver. In that case, they should alter their demands to reflect the realities of the market place.
Besides - they better get this thing settled quick. 24 starts in just about two months.
Seeing the end bid again on the Rush letter TimDenchanter #53 posted, I’m wondering if Hollywierd wants some of the comedic e-mails sent to me by Californias elustrius Senators, I’m talkin great material here for the Fake news shows. Maybe I can make an extra buck or two.
Since I dont watch network rubbish anyway, what exactly will I be missing?
Stay on strike for good for all I care.
“The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Hollyweird’s going on strike:”
Ummmmm…OK.
So, what’s the bad news?
(Agree with all previous bloggers - LOL!)
If the strike lasts more than a week, it will end just in time to not crowd Hillary’s “glorious run for the presidency” off the news.
These writers know what they’re doing. It’s early enough in the campaign so that even a protracted strike will not have much impact. But if Hillary (or any of the socialists) gets elected, those writers wouldn’t dare strike! They will never say anything that reflects negatively on other socialists.
As an example: the crazies go to Monte Rio in Sonoma County, CA every year to protest the wealthy that congregate at the Bohemian Club. However, no one was protesting there from 1993 to 2000. There was a big article reprinted from the local newspaper featuring the crazies and how they were happy to be back to protesting after a 7 year hiatus. What was happening during those 7 years? Why, a socialist was president! Why were they back? Because a Republican was now president!
These morons are so superficial!
I think this is a serious question of property rights. I hope it is resolved in favor of those who create intellectual property. We’d be missing an opportunity to weigh in on an important issue should we dismiss this one so quickly.
I’m not a writer, but I can do a lot better job than the people who are going on strike, and I’ll work cheaper.
Where do I apply?
What amazes me are the shear number of writers out there. With 12,000 minds at work the drivel shown daily on TV is the best they can do? How is it possible? I stopped watching TV 100% for several years back in the 90’s and felt better informed and entertained without it. Am I missing something here?
Hollywood writers go on strike!
90% of the country yawns!
If it ain’t sports, science or cooking on TV, I don’t watch it. I refuse to watch sitcoms. I abhor network “news”. If it weren’t for the NFL, I wouldn’t even own a TV set.
Let ‘em go on strike. I really don’t care either way.
You’ll have to excuse me if I’m not outraged. I only watch FOX. They do good reporting and are more entertaining than Stewart or Colbert, who cater to college students who don’t go to class and really aren’t that funny.
Maybe it’s time to return to reruns of real comedy, like the Carol Burnett Show, and the Dean Martin Variety Show, and Mash, and Taxi. And, who can forget how hard they laughed at the celebrity roasts that included nearly every REAL comedian and celebs? I say bring them all on and let the strike roll on!!!